“Finding The Magic of Michael Jackson All Over Again”
By Mark Bego
In
1984 I wrote two best-selling books on Michael Jackson, with nine
million copies sold, and I was right in the middle of the whole exciting
Jackson universe that whole year.I knew it was a one-in-a-lifetime streak of fame for the man whom the press called “Jacko.”That year everything was “Michael Jackson,” from his music, his videos, he sequined glove, and everything in between.However, since that time I didn’t think it was something that could be repeated.
My
book “Michael!” was released the week that the singer caught his hair
on fire filming the Pepsi-Cola commercial, and the following week my
biography of him was on “The New York Times” best-seller list.The
publisher, Pinnacle Books, decided that the only way I could follow it
up was to go an all-expense paid three-month tour of the United States,
attend 30 Jackson “Victory Tour” concerts in order to write “On The Road With Michael!"
For me, it turned into another million-selling book, and the rock & roll summer of my lifetime!
Meeting and writing my two books on Jackson literally “made” my career.Throughout the ensuing years I continued writing dozens of books, and I avidly followed the career of Michael Jackson.Between
that amazing year of 1984, and his tragic passing in 2009, the tale
went from “Victory” right downhill to “lawsuits and controversy.”How
on Earth could producers make a successful movie about this incredibly
talented man, and yet skip all of the sensationalistic events of his
last two decades?With the 2026 film “Michael,” a
sea of producers, a great screenplay writer (John Logan), and a
talented director (Antoine Fuqua) have turned Jackson’s life into the
most incredible and highly entertaining film of the year.
What
this film has accomplished is to brilliantly follow the facts about
Michael’s life to show his amazing and unique talent, while sufficiently
demonstrating how he was abused by his forceful father / manager Joseph
Jackson, and how he lived a child-like existence as a way to preserve
his soul.
The
film resists going down the road to show so many possible simultaneous
side stories, and to keep the camera focused on Michael and his budding
talent as a performer.That being said, his every
eccentricity is touched upon, and used as entertaining touchstones to
the plot, and not presented as creepy quirks.This
was obviously done to make certain that the audiences leave the theater
humming hits like “Thriller” and “Beat It,” by making this brilliant
movie end at a huge career high point:a triumphant solo Michael wowing cheering crowds in London in 1988.
Yes,
we do see Bubbles the chimpanzee, Michael’s love of plastic surgery,
and his obsession with turning himself into a living and breathing Peter
Pan of a character.The film wisely focuses of the fun-loving child living inside the body of the world’s most famous man / boy.In one scene, Joseph Jackson is seen complaining about the idea that he owes Michael everything for the family’s success.As the words come out of his mouth, we see a live giraffe from Michael’s personal menagerie walk by the window.It is comic moments like this that buoy up the film, which could have easily become a psychological drama instead.
Not
only is the pacing of this film perfect, but the viewer gets a
fascinating look behind-the-scenes at the making of the “Thriller”
video, the unforgettable “Victory” tour, and the life Michael lived at
the famed Encino, California family compound / mansion.These events keep the action and the development of the characters at the perfect pace.
Since
the industry standard of a “rock & roll” bio-film was recently set
by the Queen movie “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the film “Michael” takes several
cues from it.Both cinematic extravaganzas feature controversial main characters:Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson.However,
instead of making them into tragic cartoon characters, they are
presented as driven, humorous, loving, and talented singers, and not as
tabloid headlines.This Jackson biographical film follows this pattern perfectly.
I could go on and on about the performances in this film.It was brilliantly cast, and the make-up on everyone is “dead ringer” amazing.Key
figures in Michael’s story look exactly like the actual people who are
depicted, especially his mother Katherine Jackson (Nia Long), producer
Quincy Jones (Kendrick Sampson), John Branca (Miles Teller), and Berry
Gordy Jr. (Larez Tate). As a complete surprise nod to “Bohemian Rhapsody,” we humorously see Mike Myers as record company president Walter Yetnikoff.
Needless to say, the actor who plays adult Michael Jackson is “spot on.”He ought to be, he is Michael’s real-life nephew, Jaafar Jackson, who is also Jermaine Jackson’s son.He nails the role completely.
I
had my doubts about this film when I went to see it, and I left the
theater blown-away by its successful telling of one of the most
complicated life stories in musical history.I am again enthused about the music and the life of Michael Jackson.He was the man whose story originally put me on the book best-seller lists, and I will forever be grateful to him.This highly entertaining new film is a sheer joy.
(photos: dis COMPANY - MARK BEGO - MICHAEL! - ON THE ROAD MICHAEL!)
Except For Kent --- I'm Not Sure --- He
Always Seems To Be Ahead Of Me!
May 6, 2026:WMEX In Quincy, Mass Announced That Scott
Shannon Would Become The Host For Its Morning Show.
The Station Serving Greater
Boston Area Moved To Classic Hits Format Two Months Prior.
SCOTT = How Could You Do This?
New York / Boston?
You Got It Backwards. It Should
Be Boston / New York!
FRANK B.
I did NOT know this!!! Kinda surprised as Scott retired a
few years ago (although he continued to do his True Oldies Channel.)I wonder if he moved (???)Sadly, I haven’t heard from Scott Shannon for
years now.(I think he's ignoring me!!!) kk
From Tom Cuddy ...
By “Michael”’s second week in theaters, streams of Michael
Jackson’s music were shattering all of his previous records.
And his catalog is up in retail, too.
For starters, his landmark “Thriller” album debuted at #7 on
Billboard’s Top 200 Albums Chart.(Seriously, who doesn’t already own this album?!?!)His “Number Ones” album and the movie
soundtrack also crack The Top 40 on this week’s albums chart at #13 and #37
respectively.
Meanwhile, “Billie Jean” re-entered Billboard’s Hot 100 Pop
Singles Chart at #38 thanks to 9.4 million streams.And he is just tearing up the R&B Singles
Chart with TEN titles listed in The Top 50:“Billie Jean” (#5), “Beat It” (#9), “Human Nature” (#10), “Don’t Stop ‘Til
You Get Enough” (#11), “Rock With You” (#13), “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” (#17),
“The Way You Make Me Feel” (#20), “Smooth Criminal” (#22), “Remember The Time”
(#23), “Dirty Diana” (#24) and “Man In The Mirror” (#25).What’s even more amazing is that both “Human
Nature” and “P.Y.T.” eclipse their previous peaks on this chart with these new
rankings!
The film his now passed $441 million worldwide with a US Box
Office gross of $195 million thru May 5th.Amazing.(kk)
BE SURE TO CHECK BACK
TOMORROW FOR AN EXCLUSIVE REVIEW OF THE NEW “MICHAEL” MOVIE WRITTEN BY CELEBRITY
AUTHOR MARK BEGO.MARK HAS WRITTEN
DOZENS OF ROCK STARS BIOGRAPHIES OVER THE YEARS ... AND HIS 1984 BIOGRAPHY ON
MICHAEL JACKSON SOLD OVER 8 MILLION COPIES … SO WE ARE PROUD AND EXCITED TO BE
ABLE TO BRING THIS TO YOU!(kk)
Have you heard the new Paul McCartney / Ringo Starr duet
“Home To Us” from Macca’s upcoming “The Boys Of Dungeon Lane” LP?VERY Beatlish sounding!
Available now on all the usual streaming formats.(kk)
The Eagles (well, mostly just Don Henley) have a new short-term radio station on Sirius/XM. The Hotel California Channel (105) allows the band to play music by some of their favorite artists and influences as well as dig deeper into the history behind some of their own music, shown from a real songwriters perspective.
It's only available for a limited time, so tune in now! (kk)
A final studio album, released posthumously from Steve
Cropper, will be released on August 28th.Cropper’s band, The Midnight Hour, will be
featured along with special guest performances by Eric Clapton, Brian May,
Billy Gibbons and Ronnie Wood.
Cropper passed away in December, 2025, at age 84.The new LP “captures the guitarist,
songwriter and producer still deeply engaged in creative work during the final
year of his life.”Definitely worth a
listen!(kk)
Speaking of Ronnie Wood, he substituted for Keith Richards
on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Thursday Night after NBC had been
promoting Richards’ appearance all day long. (Wood wasn’t scheduled to appear
until the 13th)He did a very
cool harmonica duet with Fallon, who showed off his own skills on the mouth
organ.
Wood also disclosed that he used the very same guitar on the
new Rolling Stones / Cockroaches cut “Rough And Twisted” that he played on The
Faces’ big 1971 Hit “Stay With Me.”Very
cool!
Woody has been with The Stones now for over fifty
years!Amazing!(kk)
We told you the other day about The Eagles’ return to The
Sphere in Las Vegas …
But performing there right now is the Gwen Stefani-led No Doubt.
Billboard reports that this makes Gwen Stefani the first
female lead performer to appear at The Sphere.(Hmmm … I guess Dorothy and The Wicked Witch Of The West don’t count!!!)
Meanwhile, No Doubt continue their residency at The Sphere May
13th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 29th, 30th and June 3rd, 5th,
6th, 10th, 12th and 13th.
(Maybe I just need to move to Vegas so I can see all these
great shows!!!I’m still upset that
we’re going to have to miss The Backstreet Boys again when they return in July.And I’d still love to see Donny Osmond do HIS
big show again this year … his concert here in Chicago was one of the
highlights of last year for me.(kk)
A while back we told you about the launch of the actual WKRP
In Cincinnati …
Well, they took to the air May 4th (in Sean Ross’
words, “a day already devoted to geekery”) … and here, he tells you about his
“First Listen” (I think I’d get pretty sick of the WKRP theme song at this
rate!!!)
Timmy sent us this vintage television schedule from the
Peacock Network … from back before there actually WAS a Peacock Network and it
was only NBC’s nickname.(kk)
Sure beats most of what’s on these days!!!
Timmy also sent us an R.I.P. photo of Ted Turner ...
(kk)
Congratulations to Glen Fisher who this week is
celebrating his 15th Anniversary of helming “Doo-Wop Ramblings” and “Doo-Wop
Revival.”
Frank B tells us more …
kk …
This Week, Glen Fisher And "DOO-WOP
REVIVAL / DOO-WOP RAMBLINGS" Celebrate Anniversary #15.
He Started Doing His Radio Show “DOO-WOP
REVIVAL” In 2011 On WJCT In Jacksonville – And The Last Six Years On Doo-Wop
Radio.
There’s A New Show Every Saturday (4 – 6 PM)
With Repeats Wednesday (8 – 10 AM) + Friday (8 – 10 PM.)
I Like To Listen On Saturday --- He's My
Warm Up For Cousin Brucie.
I Like His Style. Gives You A Lot Of
Information About Each Song ... Year + Lead Singer + Where The Group Comes
From.
He Also Does A Monthly Newsletter Called “Doo-Wop
Ramblings.”
Like Glen Always Says, "Together We're
Keeping The Music Alive."
FB
Tom Cuddy tells us about a new Darlene Love documentary that
we can look forward to …
Tom also tells us that Bonnie Tyler (“It’s A Heartache,”
“Total Eclipse Of The Heart”) was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday (5/6) for
emergency intestinal surgery.A
statement released after her surgery said "The surgery went well and she
is now recuperating."Bonnie was
hospitalized in Portugal.Tyler has a
couple of key shows scheduled for May … we’re waiting for further word as to
whether or not she’ll be able to honor those commitments.(kk)
UPDATE:Bonnie Tyler was placed in a medically
induced coma following emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal, with
representatives for the singer confirming doctors took the step to assist her
recovery. The 74-year-old “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” singer had initially
been reported as recuperating well after the procedure earlier this week.
Lightyear Entertainment is re-releasing eight classic music
films in high definition.
The first, “Elvis ’56,” snuck by quietly in February.
June 5th will see “Eurythmics: Sweet Dreams (the
Video Album),” “Jefferson Starship: The Definitive Concert” and “Stevie Nicks:
Live at Red Rocks” released on BluRay (as well as digital platforms TVOD, SVOD,
AVOD and YVOD … I’m embarrassed to admit that I don’t even know what these
other formats are!!!) …
And then on August 21st, we’ll see “A Night with
Lou Reed,” “Rick Springfield: The Beat of the Live Drum,” “Waylon Jennings:
America” and “Return to Waterloo (a film by Ray Davies of the Kinks)”.
Some of these films saw their original release on Cinemax
(after debuting at Sundance) – “Elvis ’56,” HBO (“Stevie Nicks Live at Red
Rocks” and “Rick Springfield: The Beat of the Live Drum”) and MTV (“Eurythmics
Sweet Dreams” and “A Night With Lou Reed”) and have been long out of print and
unavailable since the ‘80’s.(kk)
From Timmy, dated 10-15-77:
And from David Salidor …
Micky Dolenz was saluted
Thursday (April 30th) by the Valley of the Stars Awards Gala at the
Hilton in LA
The annual event celebrates the
businesses, leaders, organizations, and individuals helping strengthen the
economic and cultural vitality of the San Fernando Valley.
Micky was recognized as the 2026
Entertainment Honoree, a special tribute to his enduring impact as a legendary
musician, entertainer, and member of The Monkees.
Thank you to the Valley Economic
Alliance for the honor, and to everyone who came together for such a meaningful
evening.(dis)
Then, while in Tulsa on tour, Micky Dolenz was interviewed by KOTV’s Jonathan Cooper …
Tom Cuddy tells us that Keith Urban’s new album will be a
tribute to Yacht Rock! (Here’s a brief example):
>>>Both of these were just a little before my
time ...
OK, does that mean I should be
signing my emails to you as from, "Your Big Brother?!"
But you know, Little Brother,
even if they were before your time, your extensive Hit Music Knowledge
surely encompasses some things about Historical Popular and Forgotten Hit
Songs anyway no matter their era! You did suggest that both Jo
Stafford and April Stevens were a couple of pretty hot looking women who
should have been on "Gilligan's Island!"
Jo Stafford April Stevens
Which leads to a personal aside
from television to the world of Movies, while she was before MY
Time, I thought she was pretty . . . ah . . .
awesome! (Even tho the word "awesome" was not in play during
her time!)
Lauren Bacall
Man, if I as a young
Guy, didn't know how to whistle, I'd certainly learn!
(Lauren Bacall said that iconic
line, "You know how to whistle, don't you? You just put your lips
together and blow," to Humphrey Bogart in their 1944 film To
Have and Have Not. This legendary alluring scene marked her film
debut.)
In 1961, the subtle
Shirelles Number One Hit "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," where they
sang,
"Tonight, you're mine
completely.
You give your love so
sweetly.
Tonight, the light of love is
in your eyes,
But will you love me
tomorrow?
Is this a lasting treasure,
Or just a moment's
pleasure?"
In 1963, Steve Lawrence in
his Number One Song, "Go Away Little Girl,"
"It's hurtin' me more
each minute that you delay.
When you are near me
like this,
You're much too hard to
resist,
So, go away, little girl.
Call it a day, little girl.
Oh, please, go away, little
girl,
Before I beg you to stay.”
And who can forget in 1966 Lou
Christie singing his Number One Song, "Lightnin' Strikes"
with the lyrics,
"Listen to me, baby, you
gotta understand,
You're old enough to know the
makings of a man!
I can't stop myself, I can't
stop myself!"
Or his follow up a few
months later where he sang "Rhapsody in the Rain" with the
lyrics,
"And in this car our
love went much too far.
It was exciting as Thunder.
The windshield wipers seem to
say,
"Together - together -
together - together."
And in 1968, Gary
Puckett' began a Trifecta, first with "Young Girl,"
"Beneath your perfume
and make-up, You're just a baby in disguise. And though you know, That it's wrong to be, Alone with me, That 'come on' look is in your eyes. It's hurtin' me more each minute that you delay.
Young Girl, get out of my mind,
My love for you is way out of
line, Better run, girl. You're much too young, girl.
Get out of here, Before I have the time To change my mind, 'Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far."
And his followup that same
year with "Lady Willpower" when he sang,
"Did no one ever tell
you the facts of life? Well, there's so much you have to learn. And I would gladly teach you, If I could only reach you, And get your lovin' in return.
Lady Willpower, it's now or never. Give your love to me and I'll shower Your heart with tenderness endlessly.
And the following
year, in 1969 "This Girl's a Woman Now!"
"This girl is a woman
now. She's learned how to give. This girl is a woman now. She's found out what it's all about, And she's learning, learning to live.
Our hearts told us we were right. And on that sweet and velvet night,
A child had died, a woman had
been born."
Fast Forward to 1982, there was John Mellencamp's Number One Song,
"Jack and Diane" which at one point he sang,
"Diane's sittin' on
Jacky's lap.
He's got his hands between
her knees.
Jacky, say, "Hey, Diane,
let's run off behind a shady tree.
Dribble off those Bobby
Brooks, let me do what I please."
And, of course, in 1978 Meatloaf
with "Paradise by the Dashboard Light!"
"And now our bodies are
oh so close and tight.
It never felt so good, it never felt so right.
And we're glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife,
Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife.
C'mon! Hold on tight!
C'mon! Hold on tight!
Though it's cold and lonely
in the deep dark night,
I can see paradise by the dashboard light.
OMG! Was I contributing to the
Corruption of the Youth of America by playing those songs on the radio?!!
But wasn't it an early Cave Man
who once sang, "Me bop-a-lu-lu on your head and we can go and have Wild
Monkey Sex?!"
(This might be a good time to
play, "Name That Tune!")
CB (which stands for
"Corruption Boy!")
This sure are a lot easier these days …
Now an artist simply says EXACTLY what’s on their mind …
What they want to do and how they want to do it …
And then radio just bleeps out three or four words from
every line …
A TRUE listener’s delight in my book.(NOT!)
I always say …
Who listening to and enjoying this music today will still be
singing (and bleeping) along with these tunes 60 years from now like we do with
OUR era of music.My guess would be
“Nobody.”
Certainly I have to have SOME familiarity with the artists
that came before the rock generation in order to be able to do what I do … but
simply put, a lot of this music just hasn’t aged very well.(“Teach Me Tiger” would be a perfect example
of that.
And you stumped me …
What IS that “Name That Tune” tune???(kk)
And finally, Forgotten Hitter and Internet Surfer, Chuck
Buell Presents, For No Apparent Reason, other than to share with us
something Simple, Fun and Creative that he came across while
Surfin' the Internet and then tweaked the audio to make it fit a bit
smoother!
CB PROUDLY PRESENTS …
CB (which stands for Sugar
"Cane Boy!")
This is EXACTLY what I was talking about earlier ...
I love it as each new generation discovers the oldies … OUR
music growing up … and enjoys it as much as we did … and still do!(kk)
